Stitch separating and indenting machine



N0. GIIQ57I. Patented Sept. 27, |898.

A. EPPLER, IR. STITCH SEPARATING AND INDENTING MACHINE.

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

l (Application filed Feb. 1 1897.)

(N u M 0 d 8 I.)

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No. 6|l,57|. Patented Sept`.27, |898. A. EPPLER, Jn. STITCH SEPARATING rAND INDENTING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Feb. 1, 1897.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. s||,57|. f Patented sept. 27, |898. A. EPPLER, 1n.

STITCH SEPARATING AND INDENTING MACHINE. (Application led Feb. 1, 1897.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets--Sheet 3.

No. 6||,57|. Patented, .sep1..27, |898.'

A. EPPLER, 1n.

STITCH SEPARATING AND`INDENTING MACHINE.

(Application. led Feb. 1, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

71, 0 LAL i L/ Z) im/ENTUR:

fw-p/MWL No. 6Il,57|. Patentedsept. 277 |898.

A. EPPLER, 1R. STITCH SEPABATING AND INDENTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Feb. 1, 1897.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

WITNESSEE:

ANDREW EPPLEE, JR., or NEwToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

STITCH sEPARATlNe-ND INDENTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 61 1,571, dated September 27, 1898.

Application led February l, 18'97. Serial No. 621,446. (No model.)

improvements that the indenting-tool will accurately separate orV prick up the stitches regardless of slight variations in their lengths and it consists of a machine equipped with those features of improvement 'illustrated upon the drawings, and which I shall now proceed to describe in detail and then point` out in the claims hereto annexed.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an indenting-machine equipped with my improvements. Fig. is a side elevation of the Same. Fig. 2a is an elevation from the other side. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view partially in Section. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of the indenting-tool and the feeding devices. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail view, partially in section, of the device for positioning the indenting-tool or returning it to its normal positionafter it has completed an indentation. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the rockinglever in which the tool-holder is pivoted. Fig. 1l

is a perspective view ofthe"toolholder-` Fig. 12 is an end elvation, `partially in section, of the tool-holder in place on the rocking lever. Figs. 13, 14, and 15 illustrate the feeding devices. Fig. 16 illustrates in perspectivethe clutch for the Shaft which locks the work-support. Fig. 17,1represents in section said lastmentioned shaft and the parts thereon.

In carrying out my invention, one form of which is embodied in the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawingsY and which I am about to describe, it will be understood that Imay use different forms of the various parts thereof and change the details to suit any particular requirements.

Referring to the drawings, a indicates the standard, upon which the operative parts of my machine are mounted, the standard being equipped with a suitable base (notshown) and with a bed a upon its upper end, to which the base-plate b of the frame b issecured by bolts a2.

The frame is `provided with two upright rearwardly-extending brackets b2 b2, in which is mounted a power-shaft c, equipped at one end with adriving-wheel c' and at the other end with a balance or ily wheel c2. The power may be applied to the driving-wheel c through a belt driven from any convenient shaft, as by a counter-shaft mounted in the lower part of the standard of the machine, there being, if desired, suitable clutch mechanisms for connecting and disconnecting the continuous power to and from the countershaft, this latter device not being Shown, as it is common and needs no illustration.

Upon the driving-shaft c are mounted the cams" for operating the movable parts of the machine and which I will hereinafter describe in detail.

- The upper part of the frame b is widened `to form a head or slideway d, in which reciprocates the feed-slide d,there being suitable strips d2 secured to the slideway to maintain the slide therein. The slide d is formed with transverse parallel guides da to receive a sliding block d4, and projecting upward from the said block d4 is a threaded pind, pass' ingthrough a slot d6 in a hand-lever C17, pivoted at d8 to the slide d', at the left-hand end thereof. The lever d? Slides upon a plate d",

IOO

cam-lever e, having a slotted end c', through the slot of which the pin d5 passes, the upper end of the pin being provided with suitable washers and a nut C712. The lever e is provided with an enlarged hub or bearing e2, surrounding the pivot-pin, which projects upward from the side of the head or slideway and has a nut thereon to hold it in place. The rear end e3 of the lever projects rearwardly over the driving-shaft c and is provided with a roller e4, extending down into a cam-groove f in a cam-disk f on the powershaft c. When the power-shaft is rotated, the rotation of the cam-disk causes the oscillation of the lever c and the consequent reciprocation of the feed-slide d.

By swinging the hand-lever d1 upon its pivot toward and from the pivot-pin of the lever c the length of the movement of the feed-slide may be varied as desired and as will be readily understood.

The feed-slide is provided with a downwardly projecting and laterally extended supporting-plate g, upon which are mounted the feeding devices. The forwardly-projecting end g of the supporting-plate g has an upper verticallystationary and longitudinally-adjustable jaw or gage g2, against which the upper is to be placed and which cornprises a portion of the feeding devices, it being secured in place by screws g3. The vertically-movable and forwardly-extended jaw or presser-foot g4 of the gripping device is located directly below the gage and coacts therewith to grip the work and feed it forward positively, as will be hereinafter fully described. The presser-foot g4 has a lug g11 to be grasped by the attendant in depressing it, and is secured to a lever g5, pivoted by a large-headed screw g6 to the supporting-plate g, said lever having on its rear end a segmental rack Q7, as shown in detail in Fig. 13. This segmental rack Q7 intermeshes with a pinion 7L', rigidly secured to a shaft 7i, having one end journaled in the supporting-plate g and its other end journaled in a bracket g8, secured to the supporting-plate g. The said shaft 7L is provided with a ratchet-wheel h2 and a disk h3, arranged side by side and both secured rigidly thereto by a key or spline. Said ratchet-wheel has its hub extended to form a sleeve 71.4, extending substantially to the end of the shaft 71., and upon the said sleeve and mounted to turn thereon is a camlever 72.5, having its rear end provided with a roller h6, resting upon a cam 717, rigidly secured to the driving-shaft c, next to the hub of the balance-Wheel. The lever 72.5 is also provided with a sleeve-like hub hg, which extends through the bracket g8, the end of the shaft being reduced and threaded, as at h1), to receive a washer 77,10 and a nut 7t11 for securing said parts in place. The lever h5 is provided with two dogs or pawls 71.12, either of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel h2 at certain predetermined times, being forced toward said ratchet-wheel by a spring 7113, secured to an arm on the said lever. The bracket g8 is provided with a curved shield Q9, projecting across the ratchetwheel h2 and resting loosely upon the disk h3, which is provided for this purpose. When the cam is in such position that the roller 716 on the rear end of the lever 715 is elevated, the pawls 71.12 are carried below the lower edge of the shield g1), so as to be thrust inward by their springs 7t13 to engage the ratchet-wheel h2 and lock it against movement. This in turn prevents the rotation of the pinion 7L', and consequently any movement of the presser-foot; but when the power-shaft is rotated so that the sprin g 910, connected to the arm 7L14 of the lever 71.5 and the supporting-plate g, has drawn the forward end of the said lever h5 upward the pawls or dogs ride up upon the shield g, and the ratchet-wheel, the pinion 7L', and the lever g5,with the presser-foot, are free to move. The cam 7&7 and the cam-groove f in the cam f are so related that when the forward feed is taking place the presser-foot is locked and when the rear feed or return movement of the presser-foot and the gage is taking place the presser-foot is unlocked and is free to move vertically. Thus I provide that the work is gripped positively and rigidly to feed it forward, the grip being loosened immediately as the gage and presser-foot, which constitute the gripping-j aw, begin their backward movement. When the backward movement of the feed has taken place and the lever 71,5 is operated by the cam 717, the pawls 77.12 are carried below the shield g5, as previously stated, and, engaging the ratchet-Wheel 71.2, give it a slight partial rotation, and it in turn gives a slight movement to the pinion 7L', so that the forward end of the lever 96 is raised by reason of its rear end being provided with the segmental rack g7, in mesh with the said pinion. This causes the jaw g4 to clamp the work against the opposite jaw g2, and the jaws remain locked as long as the pawls k12 engage the ratchet-wheel h2. As soon as the cam 7z'1 IOO IIO

reaches the proper position an d the pawls ride up on the shield the light spring h2o, (see Fig. 3,) connected to the head and to the end of the lever g, causes the jaw g4 to release the work and press lightly against the sole, thus permitting the two jaws to slide backward to take a fresh grip.

I shall now describe the indenting-tool and the means for operating it.

Pivoted by a pin z' to a slide 7, operating in a slideway 7 in the frame of the machine' and which slide has a hub Z2 projecting through a slot in the frame of the machine, below the slideway d, is a lever fi', having its rear extended end provided with a roller 2, projecting into a cam-slot fzin the cam-disk f. The rear end of th-e lever t" is normally held upward by a spring 3, having one end connected to the-lever and the other lend .connected to a pin 4, projecting out from the slideway d. The forward end of the lever z" is provided with two internally-threaded ears or lugs 5111,

one arranged vertically above the other to receive between them the tool-holder j, which is provided with conical socketsj'j to receive the pointed ends of two screws j2j2, passing through the ears i5. Thus the tool-holder has a vertical movement around the screw-pin 'L' and a horizontal movement about the axes of the screws j?.

The lever fr" is provided with a stop 6 and a at spring i7, whose rear end is secured to a projection 8 on the said lever, and between the stop and the spring extends a projection j? of the tool-holder j, so that under normal conditions the tool-holder and the lever are held so as to move together vertically, though the tool-holder may have an independent horizontal movement about the axes of` the screws jg. The forward end of the tool-holder projects forwardly and. upwardly, as shown in Figs. 4t and l1, and is provided with two lugs ja to receive between them the indenting-tool la, there being a screw 7cV passed through said lugs and through a slot in the indenting-tool, so as to lock them together after the indentin gtool has been properly adj usted.

The tool-holder has a downwardly-projecting tail jl, with a wedge-shaped or pointed end 3'5, and sliding in guides m' m is a slide m, having a block m2, with an angular recess 'm3, to receive the said end g5. The slide m has an arm m4, equipped with a roller m5, extending into a cam-groove f3 in the cam-disk f.

When the iudenting-tool is depressed, it is free to engage the stitches` in the welt and slide between them, the spring i7 permitting this, so that it is necessary to provide a device of the vnature just described for engagling the tool-holder and positioning it, or, in other words, causing it to assume its normal position each time after it is operated. Hence the cam-grooves f2 f3 in the cam-disk are so formed that the tool is rst depressed before the readjusting device, having the angular recess m3, is fed forward, so as to position the tool-holder ready for another operation.

I find it advisable not only to have a downward movement of the tool-holder and to allow of a horizontal vibration of the tool, but that it is frequently necessary to give the tool a motion toward and from the work, and to this end I secure to the projecting end of the pin e' (see Fig. 6) a block or roller n, by means of a screw n', threaded into an aperture in the pin i.

The block or roller n lies in a socket in a lever pivoted at n2 to the frame of the machine and having an upwardly-projecting arm 'a3 and a rearwardlyprojecting arm n4, the latter being provided with a roller n, projecting into a cam-slot f4 in the side of the disk fopposite the cam-grooves fzf. The cam-slot f4 is so formed that as the tool is being depressed into engagement with the upper edge of the welt it is at the samev time given a slightlyforward movement, so as to project in under the bulging part of the up` per on the last.

The table or work-support consists of a bar o, formed `at its upper end o to receive the work and sliding in a guideway in a bracket p, secured to an extension b4 of the frame h', there being guides p' extending over the bar, so as to hold it in place. Its rear face is formed with rack-teeth which engage a pinion p2, formed on or secured to a shaft p3. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. The bracket is formed cylindrically to provide a4 bearing for the shaft p3, it being extended out to the left to form a bearing p4 for the left-hand end of the shaft. The bracket p is likewise provided with a downwardly-projecting and forwardly-extending arm p5, through which the lower reduced and threaded eud o2 of the table passes, said threaded portion being provided with a milled nut o3, between which and a collar 0^1 a spiral spring o5 is inserted,

so as to hold the table upward with a yieldv ing pressure.

Nuts of? are'placed upon the threaded portion o2 of the table to act as stops for the latter in its upward movement. The lower end of the said threaded portion o2 is preferably connected by any suitable means,'as'a chain, i

with a treadle (not shown) mounted in the base of the machine.

I provide means for locking the table against movement during the time that the indenting-tool is being depressed into engagement with the work, it consisting of a clutch mounted upon the shaft 294, as shown in Fig. 5. The clutch is formed of two collars q g2, joined together in one piece, the collar q2 having an upwardly-projecting stop g3 and the collar q having an outwardly-'projecting stop Q4, engaging the bracket p4. These col` lars are placed upon a sleeve p6, rigidly'secured to the shaft.

A small slide o", operating in a slideway on the left-hand face of the frame h', as shown in Fig. 8, is provided with a roller r2, held in engagement with the camdisk by a suitable spring. (Not shown.) The forward end of the slide is provided with an adjustable screw r3,

which is moved forward to abut against the.

stop g3 and give suchv a twist to the clutch as IIO to lock it and the shaft rigidly together, so g as to hold the table against movement.

The operation of the-device is as follows. The parts being in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, and 8, the work maybe placed between the indenting-tool and the table and between the presser-foot and the gage by de` pressing the table and the presser-foot, the upper being placed against the gage. This may be accomplished simultaneously by connecting the lever g5 with the link s, extending from the table-bar to the foot-lever. The

work having been placed in the machine and power being imparted to the wheels c and the driving-shaft c, the parts perform the follow ing functions: As the shaft revolves the roller h6 is carried upward by the cam'h7 and the presser-foot is moved upward to clasp the work irmlybetween it and the gage. At the same time or immediately thereafter the lever e is actuated to throw the feed-slide, together with the gage and the presser-foot, to the left, so as to feed the work beneath the indentingtool. When the feeding devices have traversed one-half of their movement, the indenting-tool is allowed to be drawn downward by its spring, so as to rest yieldingly upon the work, and as the work slides under it it drops into one of the depressions between the stitches and is carried along with the work until the feeding devices stop their movement. A further movement of the power-shaft causes the rear end of the lever t" to be given a final tilt, so as to throw the tool-holder forward and down until the indenting-tool makes a dent or depression in the welt and between the two adjacent stitches. A still further movement of the power-shaft causes the feed-slide to return the feeding devices to their original positions with a quick positive movement, and at the same time the readjusting device is carried forward so as to engage the tool-holder and return it to its normal position. J ust before the indenting-tool was caused to sink into the welt the slide r was moved forward,

.so as to engage the clutch and lock the table against movement, and immediately after the back feed takes place the slide ris drawn away from the clutch,so as to allow the table to hold the work against the indenting-tool with a yielding pressure to permit the readjusting device to carry the indenting-tool and the work backward until the tool-holder is in its normal position. Hence if the stitch is abnormally short the work is positioned as well as the tool, so that the tool will be able to locate the next normal stitch. The readjusting device therefore not only positions the tool, but positions the work as well. The powershaft at this time has completed almost one revolution, and as it is turned the remainder of a revolution the indenting-tool is raised to its inoperative position. Thus it will be seen that the devices are again ready to feed the work forward and indent it, as I have just described.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim isl. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles after the sewing has been completed, the combination with means for clamping and feeding the work positively in one direction only, of an indenting-tool movably mounted above the work and constructed and arranged to descend between two stitches and be carried Aalong with the work and means for actuating the tool to indent the work.

2. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination of means for feeding the work', an operating-leing the lever to cause the tool to indent the n work.

3. In a machine for separating the stitches Y in boot and shoe soles, the combination of means for feeding the work, an indentingtool mounted loosely to swing laterally by the engagement of the work therewith, means for actuating the tool to indent the work, and means for laterallypositioning said tool after it has been operated.

4. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool constructed and arranged to move in the line of feed and means for moving said tool toward and from the work, of means for positively positioning said tool after it has indented the work.

5. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool movable in the line of feed, of means for depressing and raising said tool, and additional means for positioning said tool after each operation.

6. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool movable in the line of feed, of means for depressing and raising said tool, and a slide for engaging and positioning said tool.

7. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an operating-lever, an indenting-tool, and a tool-holder pivoted to said lever to be swung freely by the work, of means for positioning said tool-holder after it has swung with the work in the line of feed.

8. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, in combination, an indenting or separating tool, a tool-holder pivoted to swing in the line of feed, means for raising and depressing said tool-holder, and additional means positively positioning the tool-holder.

9. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool constructed and arranged to locate the stitches and separate them, of two movable reciprocatory jaws for clamping the work and feeding it positively underneath the indenting-tool.

10. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with a work support or table and an indentingtool constructed and arranged to locate and separate the stitches and temporarily clamp the work against the work-support, of two movable jaws constructed and arranged to feed the work between the indenting-tool and the work-support, and means for operating said jaws to feed the work and then return.

1l. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool',` of a gage, anda presserfoot, both forming a part of the feeding devices, and means for positively moving said feeding devices forward with the work and backward without it.

12. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with anindenting-tool, of a gage, and a presserfoot, both forming a part of the feeding devices, means for positively moving said feeding devices in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and means for locking the gage and presser-foot together during one movement and unlocking them during the opposite movement.

13. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool, of a feed-slide, and two locking-jaws reciprocatory in the lines of feed for feeding the work, said jaws being both mounted to move with the said feed-slide.

14.. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with an indenting-tool, of a feed-slide operatedby a movable part of the machine, and two gripping-jaws mounted upon the feed-slide and constructed and arranged to grip the Work to feed it under the indenting-tool, and to release it during their backward movement.

15. In a machine for separating the stitches' pinionmeshing with the rack, and a clutch constructed and arranged to lock the shaft against rotation when the indenting-tool is being depressed.

17. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the` combination with the indenting-tool, and the depressible worksupport, of the reciprocatory jaws for clamping and feeding the work, means for depressing said work-support and means for separating said jaws whereby the Work maybe placed in the machine.

1S. In a machine for separating the stitches in boot and shoe soles, the combination with a work-support, and feeding devices for the work, of an indenting-tool having provision for moving itforward under the bulging part of the upper, then allowing it to descend between the stitches to be carried along with the workpand then depressing it to separate the stitches.

19. A stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting-tool, means for operating the same, and mechanism for causing the positioning of the work after the tool has indented it.

20. AV stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting-tool, means for operating the same, and mechanism for positioning the tool and the work, after the tool has indented the Work.

21. A stitch locating and indenting machine comprising an indenting-tool, means for operating the same, means for feeding the work under the tool whereby the tool may drop between two stitches and bev carried along with the work, and mechanism for positioning the tool and the work after the indentation has been made.

In testimony whereof I have signed `my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing. witnesses, this 16th day of November, A. D. 1896. j

ANDREW EPPLER, JR..

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON. 

